The imperial
tomb of Qin Shi Huang (259 - 210 BC), the first Emperor of China and founder
of the short-lived Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty, lies 35 km east of Xi’an in Lintong
County, Province of Shaanxi.

In 1974,
peasants digging a well uncovered an underground vault of earth and timber
that eventually yielded thousands of life-size terracotta soldiers and
their horses in battle formation. In 1976, two other, smaller
vaults were discovered close to the first one. These exquisite
pottery figures from the Qin Dynasty not only reproduce a majestic view
of the then Qin State leading “an army one million strong, with one thousand
chariots and ten thousand horses” fighting in the battlefield to unify
China, but also display the remarkable achievements of Qin Dynasty sculpture
over two thousand years ago. The bronze weapons unearthed here
remains sharp and shiny with metallic luster despite two thousand years
of burial in earth.

Emperor
Qin Shi Huang was a man with a quest for immortality and eternal glory
and power. He declared himself emperor in 221 BC, after defeating
six warring states and unifying China. Hestandardized
weights and measures, written language and currency and instigated many
large public works programs including the Great Wall. Qin Shi
Huang wanted an army with him when he died. His underground army
was a miniature of his real one. More than 700,000 laborers toiled
36 years building his monument.

Six thousand
terracotta figures of warriors and horses face east in a rectangular battle
array. The vanguard appears to be three rows of 210 crossbow and
longbow bearers who stand at the easternmost end of the army.
Close behind is the main force of armored soldiers holding spears, dagger
axes and other long-shaft weapons, accompanied by 35 horse-drawn chariots.
Every figure differs in facial features and expressions.

The horsemen
are shown wearing tight-sleeved outer robes, short coats of chain mail,
and windproof caps. The archers have bodies and limbs positioned
in strict accordance with an ancient book on the art of war.

The discovery
of the Terracotta Army buried near the Emperor’s tomb on the slopes of
Li Mountain is regarded as one of the most spectacular archaeological finds
of the 20th Century. Thousands of life-sized warriors and horse figures,
equipped with chariots and bronze weapons, were created 2,200 years ago
to serve the Emperor in his afterlife. They lay buried, undisturbed,
until they were unearthed in 1974.